WIPP Crews clean underground ventilation air filters

CARLSBAD >> Crews at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant finished cleaning the first of two underground ventilation system air filters on Thursday according to the Department of Energy.

Workers successfully replaced the moderate- and high-efficiency filters in one of two units that ensures safe circulation of air flow in the underground salt mines at the nuclear waste disposal facility located 26 miles southeast of Carlsbad.

Aerosol tests confirmed that the unit was functioning properly and that the HEPA filters do not need to be replaced according to the DOE. The underground ventilation system air filters had not been replaced since February's radiation leak of trace amount of americium and plutonium.

WIPP investigation teams have made nearly a dozen entries below ground to search for the cause of the incident. Current evidence released by the DOE points to a chemical reaction inside of a nuclear waste drum that originated from Los Alamos National Laboratory.

"No one is more eager than we are to determine what happened and return to normal operations," said Joe Franco, DOE Carlsbad Field Office manager in a letter to the public. "However, investigations by their very nature are difficult to place on a schedule. We are committed to sharing our findings, but we always want to verify that the information is complete and scientifically accurate before posting it on the website."

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Crews will again descend 2,150 feet below ground to continue the investigation once the second underground air filtration unit has been cleaned.

Workers are also cleaning the underground waste hoist which allows equipment to be transported above and below ground. The hoist has not been in operation since the Feb. 5 underground truck fire.

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